Challenges and Opportunities in Future Cities by Jeremy Watson

Future Cities face diverse challenges, not least mass-urbanisation, the need for resource efficiency and the aging demography. However they also offer many opportunities for economic and societal growth.
Future Cities are therefore of key interest to government, and research is being encouraged by funding councils and the Technology Strategy Board.

TSB provided focus through the Future Cities competition (won by Glasgow in 2012) and the establishment of the Cities Catapult. The concept of a ‘smart future city’ brings enabling benefits of pervasive digital connections and open ‘big’ data to provide opportunities which can improve city services, citizen wellbeing and economic performance.